Energy savings and surge protection device

Abstract

An energy savings and surge protection devices device that saves electrical energy by optimizing the power factor in single-phase and three-phase applications through the use of capacitors ( 10 ) with fixed levels of capacitance and variable capacitance capacitors ( 13 ) while providing selectable periods of correction for periods of high or low energy demand through the use of on/off switches/buttons ( 6 ), timers ( 12 ), meters ( 17 ), and servo-loop controls ( 14 ) which are used to activate and deactivate capacitors ( 10 ) with fixed levels of capacitance and/or discreet capacitive cells ( 15 ) of variable capacitance capacitors ( 13 ). Additionally, surge protection is promoted through the use of surge arresters ( 11 ), also called metal oxide varistors (MOVs).

1 . An energy savings and surge protection device comprising:
 an enclosure;   at least one capacitor; and   at least one on/off switch/button for activating and deactivating the at least one capacitor.   
   
   
       2 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one capacitor indicator light to indicate if the at least one capacitor is activated or deactivated.   
   
   
       3 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a power indicator light to indicate if electricity is being conducted through the energy savings and surge protection device.   
   
   
       4 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a power indicator light to indicate if electricity is being conducted through the energy savings and surge protection device.   
   
   
       5 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a hazard indicator light to indicate a problem with the energy savings and surge protection device.   
   
   
       6 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a hazard indicator light to indicate a problem with the energy savings and surge protection device.   
   
   
       7 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a hazard indicator light to indicate a problem with the energy savings and surge protection device.   
   
   
       8 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one surge arrester.   
   
   
       9 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one timer for activating and deactivating the at least one capacitor.   
   
   
       10 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a meter which measures kilowatt usage and automatically activates or deactivates the at least one capacitor depending on the energy demand.   
   
   
       11 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one capacitance indicator lamp to indicate the level of capacitance.   
   
   
       12 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a meter to indicate the level of capacitance.   
   
   
       13 . An energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least one capacitor is at least one variable capacitance capacitor;   said at least one variable capacitance capacitor having multiple discreet capacitive cells;   said discreet capacitive cells having individual capacitance levels;   said multiple discreet capacitive cells each having an individual terminal; and   said multiple discreet capacitive cells all having a common terminal.   
   
   
       14 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 at least one on/off switch/button to individually activate and deactivate said multiple discreet capacitive cells.   
   
   
       15 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a capacitor indicator light to indicate if the at least one variable capacitance capacitor is activated or deactivated.   
   
   
       16 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a power indicator light to indicate if electricity is being conducted through the energy savings and surge protection device.   
   
   
       17 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a hazard indicator light to indicate a problem with the energy savings and surge protection device.   
   
   
       18 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 at least one surge arrester.   
   
   
       19 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 at least one timer for activating and deactivating said multiple discreet capacitive cells.   
   
   
       20 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a meter which actively measures kilowatt usage and individually activates or deactivates said multiple discreet capacitive cells depending on the energy demand.   
   
   
       21 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 at least one servo-loop control system.   
   
   
       22 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 multiple capacitance lamps to indicate if said multiple discreet capacitive cells are activated or deactivated.   
   
   
       23 . The energy savings and surge protection device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a meter to indicate the level of capacitance of said at least one variable capacitance capacitor.   
   
   
       24 . A variable capacitance capacitor comprising:
 multiple discreet capacitive cells;   said discreet capacitive cells having individual capacitance levels;   said multiple discreet capacitive cells each having an individual terminal;   said multiple discreet capacitive cells all having a common terminal; and   a servo-loop control system to automatically activate various discreet capacitive cells as needed.